Comic-Con: 'Sanctuary' for all

By Hanh Nguyen

July 25, 2009 7:57 PM

"Sanctuary" is going global this season.

The Syfy show, which has the distinction as the only Internet-to-TV program that ever got a second-season pickup, has big plans, which were shared with the packed Comic-Con audience Saturday afternoon.

Overview of Season Two

"We wanted this show to have a big scope, like a James Bond feel," said co-creator Damian Kindler. "It makes sense you'd see more work around ths world this way. This year you'll see what the global Sanctuary network looks like. We actually built new Sanctuaries. We can't wait for you to see it."

Curiously, the season finale set in Japan actually uses real footage shot in Tokyo, not green-screened backgrounds, so watch out for that. Co-creator Martin Wood promised bigger and better things for the second season, including more action (and helicopters!), better effects and tougher challenges for the actors.

"We beat the crap out of them physically and emotionally," he said.

Amanda Tapping as Dr. Helen Magnus

Tapping directs an episode called "Veritas" this season in which her character "goes completely off her rocker" and that it "showcases Robin beautifully." The episode also guest stars "Eureka's" Erica Cerra.

This season, the relationships also deepen, and Will Zimmerman (Robin Dunne) really shows his loyalty to Magnus.

As for what happens to her daughter Asley (Emilie Ullerup) after being taken in by the Cabal, Tapping revealed, "A very cool thing happens, and it actually sends shockwaves throughout the entire Sanctuary network. It's pivotal to the show, and it's pivotal to all of us what happened.

"Of course you see at the end of the season with her being captured by the Cabal, you can see as we come back the high vibration of emotion that's tied around what's happening to her. We don't let go of that for three whole episodes. It's very intense."

Robin Dunne as Will Zimmerman

As Will's relationship with Magnus deepens, his world becomes more complex and difficult. One episode, "Next Tuesday," involved crashing helicopters and floating in chilling water for five straight days. Both Dunne and Tapping do most of their own stunts and so had to do endure the low temperatures. "There was no shrinkage!" Dunne declared.

On a more serious note, Tapping discussed an episode that gave Dunne an emotional acting challenge.

"'Pavor Nocturnus' is an episode where a probable future and it's Will like you've never seen -- it creeped me out when Robin walked on the set," said Tapping.

Dunne added, "It was kind of a weird week ... It was set in the future, and I guess the future didn't go so well. It was weird walking into the Sanctuary and seeing it sort of decayed. It was upsetting. This is the Sanctuary, and particularly Magnus' office, it's the home, it's the anchor of our show and to see it all messed up was kind of weird."

"Plus, you had a mullet," Kindler chimed in. "When society falls, mullets begin."

Newcomers and guests

As mentioned before, Erica Cerra makes an appearance this season, as does her "Eureka" co-star Chris Gauthier, who plays a comedic character who suddenly gains powers. Also joining the guest cast are "Stargate's" Michael Shanks and Callum Blue.

A new cast member will shake things up for the Sanctuary staff as well.

"Kate Freelander, played by the wonderful Robin D'Arcy, joins the cast of the show as sort of that irreverent, shoot from the hip, Han Solo character," said Wood. "She's essentially a freelance operative who works for the highest bidder. She's worked for the Cabal, she'll work for anybody. She's a bit of a lost soul who'd never admit it. But she brings an amazing kind of instinctive quality to the mix. We created her because we felt there was a need to have someone who spoke from the gut."

Tapping agreed, "I think the interesting thing about bringing a character from outside of the Sanctuary in is that it shines a light on everything we hold dear, the routines that we have and the way that we do things. It forces us to reestablish ourselves and question if what we're doing is the right thing."

As for how Magnus receives the youthful newcomer, Tapping added, "She doesn't trust her at all."

Resurrection (sorta)

Many fans in the audience were concerned that favorite characters that were killed off would never return. The showrunners offered a little bit of hope for some of them returning, such as Dr. James Watson (Peter Wingfield).

"You got to remember, he lived for a long time," said Wood, "And, we tell backstory all the time."

Revisiting the past is one way, but some characters will remain dead, but their actors may get recast.

"We can kill a lot of people and bring them back [in another role]," pointed out Wood, citing Chris Heyerdahl's dual role as Bigfoot and John Druitt. "We can put a mustache on them."

The second season of "Sanctuary" will premiere on Friday, Oct. 9 at 10 p.m. on Syfy.

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